  urlLink The New York Times > Books > Fewer Noses Stuck in Books in America, Survey Finds : "The survey, called 'Reading at Risk,' is based on data from 'The Survey of Public Participation in the Arts,' conducted by the Census Bureau in 2002. Among its findings are that fewer than half of Americans over 18 now read novels, short stories, plays or poetry; that the consumer pool for books of all kinds has diminished; and that the pace at which the nation is losing readers, especially young readers, is quickening. In addition it finds that the downward trend holds in virtually all demographic areas. " 
